Many of you emailed me to say you still aren’t getting my blog emails, so I wanted to give y’all a little update. The email problem is happening all over blog land and there’s nothing I can do to fix it. I did what I know to do and it still didn’t help everyone. I’m suggesting that folks sign up to read their fave blogs thru Bloglovin or Digg or another reader service. I’m not sure this email problem will ever be fixed, it’s the email providers that are not letting them come thru.
It’s been 2 years since we bought my house and started renovations and one of the things on my to-do list has been to get the house painted. I wasn’t sure how long it would take, but this spring seemed to be the right time to hire that job out and just get it done. I got 3 bids for painting companies and chose the one I thought would be best and they came out and got it all pressure washed, rotten wood replaced, caulked, primed and painted. I am ecstatic with my house now, as you can imagine! All of those months of waiting paid off. We got the inside done and now it was time to move to the outside.
Just as a reference point, I paid $2800 for my whole house exterior paint job. I used a local company, but I am hesitant to share, because someone used them after I put them on here and was not happy with the outcome. They did a good job for me, but there were a couple of things that I didn’t like that they did, mainly not priming my front railings and new wood on the front porch. I know prices are different all over the country. My neighbors have certainly noticed the changes too!
Just as a reminder, I’ll show you the house when we first bought it so we can really appreciate the after shots. It’s come a long way baby! Wow, at the difference, it’s amazing to look back 2 years ago. How quickly we forget how far we have come!
I’m so happy with the paint color I chose. It’s Sherwin Williams Dovetail, with Pure White Trim. I don’t have room for shutters on all my windows, so with 2 colors on the house, I went deep and rich with the white trim as an accent and couldn’t be happier with the outcome.
Grays sometimes photographs with a purple hue, but I can assure you this is a true gray, rich and deep. My house isn’t sitting in Nantucket or Cape Cod, but I think it has a little bit of a coastal feel now with the new porch and paint.
Here’s a reminder of what the garage side of the house looked like with the rotten little red door. I had that replaced with a bigger one and what a difference on this side as well.
The garage side looks so much better too with the garage doors painted gray as well. This end of the house really has come a long ways too. I’ll be tackling that retaining wall when the front yard landscaping is finished and at least get a good coat of stucco paint on it to make it look better. In fact, the folks working on my landscaping are going to add a drain to that wall to take the water pressure off of it. It’s already leaning and we are trying to save it in the long run, so it needs a way to have water drain out. Houses are always a work in progress, aren’t they?
The front of my house has changed so much overall and I am SO happy with the new front portico. I had that built right before Christmas, if you missed it and knew that getting the whole house painted in the spring would change everything and it certainly did.
They used a Sherwin Williams solid stain matched to Dovetail for the porch floor and steps. All the other trim and railings is Pure White, which is the same trim color I used inside my house. It doesn’t show up as vibrant, but I just painted the front door in a beautiful turquoise.
Side view of the porch. Next week the landscape process begins and I am jumping up and down over that too! The sides of the porch will be hidden once plants go in. We’re going to tackle the fireplace too and disguise it from the floating feel it has now.
This will all change soon as plants get installed.
Here’s a shot of the new turquoise door and it really is bright and pretty, it’s just hard to capture it with the morning light and shadows. I painted the porch ceiling the same as my screened porch ceiling, Rainwashed by Sherwin Williams. It’s a light blue and very subtle.
If you missed yesterday’s post about the front door color, it tells all about the paint color (colormatched to Annie Sloan Florence) and how I did it all.Â
New Welcome mat from Target in vibrant colors.
With the storm door propped open, you can see the new turquoise better.
I love how it turned out and I will go back and add a quick poly coat of satin just to give it a little protection and less of a chalky feel. Inside the storm door, it will be protected anyway. I love my leaded glass door and so happy that I have it. It adds just that cottage touch to my house and I really wanted to achieve and now with the front porch, I do have that cottage feel. You can see I have a little bit of hole patching to do where my old light fixture was.
Did you notice the new fixture? I knew you would!
A big THANKS to Ballard Designs for providing this fixture for me. It’s a beautiful addition to my front porch. With the seeded glass and bronze body, it really adds a nice touch to the porch. At first, I wasn’t going to change that light out, but the more I looked at the old one, it just needed to be a bit bigger and I knew a hanging pendant would be the icing on the cake. The fact that Ballard Designs provided the fixture was extra special. I had my electrician hang it for me.
So, that’s the tour of the new house exterior paint project. You can imagine how excited I am about all of this. A dream come true for sure to have this done 2 years later. And wouldn’t you know it, my AC unit just went out and it’s the original, 35 years and counting so time for a new one. I’m just thanking the Lord that I have the money to pay for a new one!
Life is good and I’m loving my cute house!
Sharon says
I’ve noticed a trend with shutters now. They can be used on all of your windows or just a few. Like on the upper windows on your house. Looks nice!
Erica says
Hi Rhoda – I’ve been following you since your first house and I have to admit – I love this one SO MUCH MORE! I feel this one is truly YOU 🙂 Can you share what color you have on that front door? I am looking for a fun color for my patio door. Also, do you prefer having a solid glass storm door vs one that has the 1/2 option w/ a screen? I can’t decide!
Rhoda says
Hi, Erica, I shared all about the front door yesterday, here’s the post:
http://southernhospitalityblog.com/pop-of-color-on-the-front-door/
Thank you for following all these years! I have to say, this house is really ME too. I do love the cottage feel.
Julia G. says
Rhoda – the paint color is beautiful and your house looks so nice. I’m sorry your air conditioner went out…go glad we are having some nice days until you get it replaced and the summer heat sets in. Have a great day!
Shari says
Wow Factor! Looks beautiful, as I knew it would!! Did you paint the porch ceiling the blue color because it’s a “Southern” thing to do to a front porch? Or is there a practical reason? I heard that you do that to keep spiders away? Has anyone had any luck with that? Either way, it is stunning-can’t wait for the landscaping!
Rhoda says
HI, Shari, it is a Southern thing and I’ve heard that it does repel spiders/bugs. I really just did it cause I love the light blue and did it on my back porch too.
Ruth says
What a fantastic transformation!! I love everything you’ve done!!
Richella Parham says
RHODA! I am so happy for you!! The grey looks absolutely wonderful on your house–great choice! The turquoise door is stunning. And you’re right–that lantern is the icing on the cake!
Can’t wait to see how things look with the “floating” fireplace disguised and new plants. Girl, I think you’re destined for magazine pages!!
Vicki Crowe says
Happy and excited for you! Now cant wait to see the landscaping!!
Karli says
The house looks great! Congrats on having it finished. We picked the exact same color combo on our last home and all our neighbors loved it. 🙂
Judy says
Gorgeous!!! Love the deeper, rich color. And the front door color, hanging light fixture, and door mat makes it all POP. 🙂 Great job Rhoda.
Toni says
LOVE the transformation…..what a fabulous job you have done with this home. I’ve followed it every step of the way. I can only imagine the wonderful sense of satisfaction! Just one small thought, have you considered painting that drain pipe on the front right side of the house that comes down from the gutters. gray from the window to the ground? Then it would just blend in, like the ones on the side of the house rather than be highlighted on the front? But really, the house looks GREAT! Love your portico! It says, “Come on in!”
tina says
It has been so great to watch your journey with this house and to see all that God has provided. I love the paint job and the new front porch/portico. I have a suggestion though – or a question. Do you “need” a storm door or is it just for looks, etc.? If you don’t really need it, your beautiful turquoise door would show to a much better advantage without it. It’s just a personal choice of course, but I really hate seeing a storm door over a pretty door! Also wondering if you are going to close in beneath the porch before the plantings, just in case a critter decides to make a home there! This is from experience, my hubby had to close in my MIL’s because of SKUNKS getting under there!!!
Can’t wait to see the landscaping – that will make a HUGE difference. After several years of trying to do our own and not getting it how we wanted it, we bit the bullet 2 years ago and had ours done professionally. Money well spent!
tina
Rhoda says
Thank you, Tina. I love my storm door because it does protect from the elements and even though I now have a porch, I like it for security. I can open my main door and have my storm door locked. I don’t think it really takes away that much from the looks of the house and that’s why I chose a solid glass with all white, It blends in with the trim. Not planning to close in the bottom of the porch either. When the landscape plants go in it will cover up the sides.
Suem says
Rhoda… I too am excited about your transformation! I check on you everyday also. Pour myself a cup of coffee and go to your webpage! Thought about your fireplace too. A trellis is going to be just right! My husband and I are about ready to sell our big house and I want to do something like you.. last fall I copied your sister’s bedroom for our master bedroom. Imn ot sure how to send you pictures but it looks good! I sew and cover furniture do I was able to save a lot. Thank you… and again if your mom and dad want another daughter….I’m here!!!! Sue
Jo @ Let's Face the Music says
Hi, did I miss the name of the porch ceiling paint color. It’s so perfect. Jo @ Let’s Face the Music
Ruby says
It just looks beautiful! Love all your colors!
Marianne in Mo. says
Nice and classic, with a hint of modern on the turquoise door! I tried a similar color on my door, but it looked awful with my siding. Now the door has about eight layers of paint! (Rolling eyes!) I may try a yellow, with a hint of orange in it, but not yet.
Will you be incorporating lighting in your landscape plans? I can’t wait to see it all finished! How does the rear look with the porch and small deck?
Kathy@The Daily Nest says
Hi Rhoda! All I can say is “Wow!!!” I love all your choices, especially your sky blue porch ceiling! When we were recently in Charleston all their porch ceilings were blue and I loved it! Is your landscape designer Carmen Johnston perhaps? She’s my idol!! Lol Great job thanks for sharing!! Xo,Kathy @The Daily Nest
Rhoda says
Yes, Kathy, Carmen is coming in to rescue my yard!
Melissa @ HOUSEography says
Looks so awesome!! I am getting ready for the second phase of my front porch make-over so this is great inspiration – blue ceiling!! Can’t wait to see your landscaping choices. That will MAKE your house I think!
Lena says
It looks so great!! I hope you inspire your next door neighbors to paint theirs next. With yours all done up theirs is looking pretty sad in the one picture where we can see theirs.
BTW have you considered adding corbels under the tall section that juts out? I think it would look really cute and go well with your new entry. Love the new light there btw.
Some are Wrong house and corbel style, but just to illustrate what I was talking about there are some pictures here with a similar room jutting out with corbels under. Like Fc-18, FC-71,Fc-76 and FC-85.
http://www.fauxwoodbeams.com/corbels_design.php
Rhoda says
Hi, Lena,hadn’t really thought about that but it is a good look. Maybe down the road I can do more with that.
Lisa E says
Your house is looking fabulous! Such a difference with the portico alone and now with everything painted; so pretty. Love the new light fixture, too. We need a new one as every time our light goes out it’s a real pain to change the bulb. That one looks pretty easy. Great job as always!
Brenda Van Riper says
I LOVE your house and front door I am getting siding on my house in the next week and I chose the color herringbone can you give me your opinion on what color I should paint my front door and window trim I would like something that stands out a little but don’t want something that blinds people either I would appreciate so much your opinion
Thanks
Brenda
Stacey says
Rhoda, you’ve truly transformed that house from the inside out. Well, you and your Dad. 🙂
I love the exterior now and the porch is the crowning touch. Love the colors you’ve chosen for the siding and the door. The design of the porch is perfect too. Bring on the landscaping.